The X Factor: semi-finalists revealed!

The 32 acts who will compete for a place in the live finals of The X Factor 2010 have been revealed, following the last stage of boot camp.

The second of this weekend’s double bill of shows saw more of the 100 remaining hopefuls take to the stage for their final boot camp performances, judged by Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and guest panellist Nicole Scherzinger.

And among those making a favourable impression was receptionist Katie Waissel, who kicked off the show with her rendition of Adele’s You Make Me Feel My Love.

Louis initially expressed doubts about Katie, suggesting she might be trying too hard, but she won support from Nicole. “Everything is right there,” she said of the quirky 24-year-old.

Also making their mark were flamboyant duo Diva Fever, and French twins Twem, who admitted they were passionate about performing. “We love music, we are crazy about music,” the pair said. “Every minute we sing.”

However not everybody was convinced – although Louis loved the duo, Simon gave them the thumbs down.

Italian Nicolo Festa and single mum Rebecca Ferguson fared better. “I like the fact he’s a bit out there,” Louis said after Nicolo had performed David Bowie’s Life On Mars, while he was equally keen on Rebecca.

“She’s blossomed and she has changed,” he said, while Simon added that she had a “recording voice”.

Irish supermarket worker Mary Byrne also won the judges’ seal of approval, while Zimbabwe-born teenager Gamu Nhengu reduced Louis to tears with her performance of the Adele song sung by Katie earlier.

However she admitted afterwards, “I’ve never seen so many good singers ever, and it’s anybody’s game.”

When it came to announcing the results, the judges revealed that the over-25s category was being changed to the over-28s, to reflect the fact that some singers over that age were more suited to the boys and girls categories.

“I think it’s going to strengthen the competition,” Simon said.

He also announced that eight acts in each category – rather than the usual six – would be going forward to the judges’ houses.

However only six groups were put through initially – as nine of the singers rejected were thrown a lifeline when Simon told them he wanted them to form two new groups, a boyband and a girlband, to compete at the judges’ houses.

Zain Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles will feature in the boy band, while the girl band will consist of Rebecca Creighton, Esther Campbell, Sophia Wardman and Geneva Lane.

The judges also found out on the show which categories they would be mentoring.

Dannii Minogue – who featured for the first time this series – will mentor the boys, Cheryl Cole once again has the girls, Simon Cowell will look after the groups and Louis Walsh is in charge of the over 28s.

To find out the names of the 32 acts who have made it to the judges’ houses, click here